There goes the neighborhood...

The situation outlined in Rick Reilly's latest column for ESPN.com is just plain wrong and unacceptable, if it's true.

A Georgia high school baseball team, playing in the state championship, got so irritated with the umpire's call against him that they may have tried to do something about it. In the fourth inning, the pitcher threw a high fast ball and the catcher put his glove up to catch it. But, according to Reilly's column:

"... He drops to his knees before the ball gets to him. Doesn't even try to catch it. Just flops to his knees, with his head looking down at the plate. Never looks up or back. The ball, meanwhile, conks umpire Jeff Scott square in the face mask. Rocks him back. Then squirts up the third-base line."

If this in fact was done intentionally, how low can people possibly get? We've all played in or watched games where the officiating was awful, but come on. Is this really how we fix problems now?

The catcher explained he was expecting a curveball and just dropped the ball. Reilly didn't believe him:

"Yeah, surrrre. I used to catch a little. Happens all the time. You're expecting a curveball and instead you get a fastball so you say, 'Boy, didn't see that coming. I'll just drop to my knees and wait for the next one.' "

My friend TJ may be able to tell some umpiring stories. He was an umpire for Little League games at one time.

Today is the day

IU makes its case in front of the NCAA infractions committee. Former coach Kelvin Sampson, some of his assistants, IU officials and a bunch of lawyers will be present to defend their actions.

The hearing is closed to the public and media. The Indianapolis Star ran a great story today outlining the charges, process and potential outcomes.

Keep your fingers crossed...

Hold open tryouts...

If you wouldn't admit it before, you have to now. Tom Crean is rebuilding the IU program, not reloading, literally from the ground up. Jordan Crawford announced yesterday he is leaving IU.

That leaves Kyle Taber as the only scholarship player returning from last year's team, according to media reports. He averaged 1.3 points per game last season. Crawford was expected to be the focus of Crean's first team, according to this report.

That's 12 players from the 2007-08 team that are now gone, if you include graduations and leaving early for the NBA draft, according to the Indy Star's count. Should IU fans start to wonder if the players know something the rest of us don't? IU is going in front of the NCAA this week to deal with the pending infractions from the Kelvin Sampson administration.

On the plus side, Crean may start the 08-09 season with his own version of the Fab 5. And who knows, I could enroll in graduate school there and use the four years of eligibility I have left...

D-Day nears...

IU will go before the NCAA infractions committee next weekend, hoping the proverbial book will not be thrown at them for issues related to the basketball program.

A summary of the NCAA's case was released Thursday. Media accounts are available here and here (including a pdf of the summary).

According to reports, the summary includes transcripts of three-way phone calls as well as testimony from potential recruits about what subjects were discussed. Former basketball coach Kelvin Sampson has disputed some of the claims.

IU thinks its self-imposed sanctions are enough and its decades-long clean record should count for something. The fate of next season and beyond is in NCAA's hands. Hopefully, they don't make an example of us.

The run ends

After a valiant effort, the IU baseball team fell in the Big Ten tourney semi-finals, losing 11-7 to Purdue.

I wasn't able to watch the game, because I was enjoying my Memorial Day weekend and I am not able to get Big Ten Network. But it didn't look like the Hoosiers were ever in the game. They were down 8-2 going into the seventh inning and 10-3 going into the eighth. IU scored four runs in the top of the eighth, but could not come up with any more in the ninth.

It was a good run. The Hoosiers finished the regular season 28-28, 15-17 in conference. A run to the semi-finals certainly was not expected.

Only three months until football season begins ... Game 1 is at noon Aug. 30 against Western Kentucky. It will not be on TV, not even BTN.

On to the semis

Believe it or not ... a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Hoosiers the win over Penn State 11-8. Big Ten Network coverage is available here.

The Hoosiers move on to the semi-finals at 3:35 p.m. tomorrow, where they will face the loser of Michigan and Purdue, to be played later tonight.

IU was down 8-7 going into the bottom of the ninth after giving up four runs in the top half of the inning on four hits and an error.

The Hoosiers started the bottom half of the inning with two singles, and after a fielder's choice, had runners on first and second with one out. An infield single loaded the bases, bringing up the No. 9 hitter Tyler Cox. The grand slam won the game. Cox was 3-5 on the day.

The Hoosiers had 15 hits in the game. It wasn't a bad double-header. The Hoosiers scored a combined 25 runs on 31 hits. Chris Squires was the winning pitcher.

Boys of summer move on

The Hoosier baseball team took care of Illinois 14-7. They advance to play Penn State at 3:35 p.m. today. Another win would get them to Saturday's semi-finals where they would play the loser of the Michigan-Purdue game tonight.

IU catcher Josh Phegley went 4-4, including two homers, and drove in six runs in the win. IU had 16 hits in the game. Pitcher Tyler Tufts got the win, going nine innings and give up six earned runs.

Hold open tryouts Part II

More news comes out today as Tom Crean continues his house cleaning. The latest casualty is Brandon McGee, who would have been entering his sophomore season. He apparently didn't meet academic and team guidelines, according to the Indystar.com report.

That leaves us with two (yes, two) players remaining from last year's team: Jordan Crawford and Kyle Taber. Crean still has 11 scholarship players, a mix of freshmen and junior-college transfers, coming to Bloomington in the fall.

I must admit, I didn't think Crean would clean out the program as fast as he did. Maybe it's a good thing. Since Hoosier Nation expects him to win now, he has to get his ideal team put together as quick as possible.

The IU boys of summer

Those of us who are IU alumni likely don't have too many fond memories of Hoosier baseball. Not because the team isn't a national powerhouse ... OK because the team isn't a national powerhouse. But the Hoosiers are competitive and this year qualified for the Big Ten tournament. Only the top six teams are invited the the double-elimination event. The winner gets a bid to the NCAA tournament.

IU was the last team in. After getting clobbered by Penn State 6-1, IU beat Ohio State in 10 innings Thursday to stay alive. The team plays No. 4 seed Illinois at 12:05 p.m. today. A full bracket is here.

Michigan is hosting the tournament this year and is the top seed.

Update (1:11 p.m.): I almost forgot, my friend and fellow IU alum T.J., knows all too much about IU baseball. He covered the team one spring for the IDS.

The Hoosiers are leading Illinois 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning after a three-run homer by Josh Phegley.

Schedule open tryouts

The Hoosiers are down to three returning scholarship players for next season, according to this report from ESPN.com. The program is supposed to announce today that Armon Bassett,
Jamarcus Ellis will not be reinstated and that DeAndre Thomas and Eli Holman also are leaving.

Holman's departure is no surprise after the issue yesterday where police had to be called when he lost it during a meeting with Head Coach Tom Crean.

According to the story, there are eight players returning, including the incoming JC players and freshmen. Maybe Crean should scout the IU intramural basketball games or hang out at the HPER and watch the pick-up games this summer. There probably is someone there worthy of wearing the Indiana uniform. Either way, IU may end up with only five or six players in its rotation next year.

Two Hoosiers in a row

Just as I think Hardy is going to drop a ton, he is picked right after Porter. Hardy is going to the Buffalo Bills, who used the 41st pick to get him.

Hardy was the fourth wide receiver taken overall, which is one better than he was projected. Most of the grades I saw had him as the fifth-best in the draft.

The first Hoosier is taken...

The first wide-out went at pick 33 -- it was Donnie Avery from Houston.

The big IU story today was that Tracy Porter was selected before James Hardy. Porter went at Pick 40 to the Saints. There was talk among the ESPN guys that the Saints may have been trying to work a trade to get Jeremy Shockey, but it didn't materialize at that time.

It's good that the Hoosiers had at least one player taken in the second round. It is an indication the team is able to attract some quality talent. And as the rebuilding, I mean building, process continues, potential recruits will notice that.

James Hardy still not picked

IU receiver James Hardy was projected to be selected late in the first round. The first round is now over and Hardy has not been picked. In fact, no wide receivers were selected.

We'll see what happens in the second round. There were no receivers graded as can't-miss impact players, so maybe teams decided they weren't worth a first-round selection.

The Steelers are on the clock

And the pick is ... Rashard Mendenhall. This is kind of a surprising pick for me. The Steelers have Willie Parker and Najeh Davenport. Parker is the speed guy. They need a bruiser back and I didn't think that was Mendenhall. The NFL.com bio (linked above) says he is a physical runner that does well between the tackles. So maybe I'm wrong.

If the Steelers were going to draft a running back, they needed to get a straight-ahead type of back, one who is going to get the tough yard on 3rd and one.

The prediction here was offensive line, but most of the good linemen were gone. My only guess is Mendenhall was the best player left and they couldn't pass him up. He was predicted to go a lot higher.

The Bears are on the clock

The guess is offensive line by ESPN ... and it's offensive tackle Chris Williams.

The Bears more than nine minutes of the 10-minute allowance. That leads me to believe they waffled back and forth on the pick or they were entertaining trades. Running back Rashard Mendenhall still was available and I think the Bears considered taking him to shoulder the rushing load in case Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson still can't get it done.

Offensive line was the safe pick and fills an important need. The Bears need to protect their quarterback (whoever it will be) just so their offense can get started.

Draft is underway...

The ESPN draft tracker is here. The NFL.com version is here and CBS's version is here, along with NBC's.

Through the first seven picks there were no surprises. Even the green room is now empty, meaning all the top guys expected to go high have been pick. The only minor surprise was the Patriots trading the seventh pick to the Saints.

The Ravens just traded their pick to Jacksonville, which now is on the clock. The Bears should be picking in about an hour.

Draft Day begins

But there apparently isn't any reason to watch the first half hour of the draft, because the first three picks already are set. ESPN reported during its four-hour pre-show that after Jake Long is picked by the Dolphins, that the Rams likely are going to take defensive lineman Chris Long. And now the Falcons really want to take quarterback Matt Ryan with the third pick, ESPN says. Steve Young says they have to take Ryan to get over the Michael Vick saga.

There's always the chance this is just gamesmanship by the teams, and it wouldn't be the first time the media has been used to distribute some misinformation. I guess there's still some reason to watch, but I wouldn't be sure you are in your seat with your beer and popcorn right at 3 p.m.

Show time

The NFL draft is less than a day away and I'm sure wide receiver James Hardy, defensive back Tracy Porter and a couple other former Hoosiers are having trouble sleeping.

Hardy is projected in two mock drafts to go in the late first round to San Francisco. An NFL.com mock draft has Hardy going to the Cowboys.

Porter could go as high as the second round. Long snapper Tim Bugg also is considered a prospect, as is fellow defensive back Leslie Majors.

All the fun begins tomorrow at 3 p.m. Saturday on ESPN. We already know who the first pick will be: its offensive lineman Jake Long from Michigan going to the Dolphins. The Rams now are on the clock. The Bears have the 14th pick and the Steelers pick 23rd.

Update (4-26): The L.A. Times mock draft has Hardy going to the Titans in the first round. Less than five hours until Long is announced as the top pick...

The Bears on the other hand...

May lose their season after the first five weeks. They are the sacrificial lamb for the Colts to beat down in week 1 (Indy's new stadium opens this fall). Then they play at the Panthers, before coming home to play the Bucs and Eagles. All four could end up being losses. Another loss at the Lions could make the Bears 1-4 or 0-5 before travelling to Atlanta, where they should get a win.

Three straight home games against the Vikings, Lions and Titans could net a win or two, and three straight road games at Green Bay, St. Louis and Minnesota also could lead to a win.

Of course the problem is the Bears will be piling up losses throughout this process. I'm guessing by week 14, they could be 6-7. Then games against the Jaguars, Saints, Packers and Texans, should effectively end the season. An 8-8 or 9-7 season should be the best this team can expect. But it may be worse if the team can't find a quarterback.

The draft is only a week away. And there are some quality QBs available...

Steelers preparing for 2008 gauntlet

Prepare for potentially an ugly football season in Pittsburgh. The new schedules have been released, and the Steelers don't much room to breath.

Apparently a 10-6 record and first round exit from the playoffs warrant a tough slate the following year. The season opens with a home game against the Texans, but weeks 2 through 9 are all potential losses: at the Browns and Eagles, followed at home against the the Ravens, then at the Jaguars (who beat them in the playoffs last year), at the Bengals, and at home against the Giants (who won the Super Bowl).

After a "break" in Washington against the Redskins, the Steelers are home against the Colts and Chargers. Weeks 13 and 14 are at the Patriots followed by a home game against Dallas. After games at the Ravens and Titans, the season comes to a merciful end against the Browns.

If the Steelers can get through the first eight weeks with four wins, it would be pretty impressive. Another 10-6 record may be the best this team can hope for, if the talent level is similar to last year. The good news is, this team will have film on the best teams in the NFL if they make the playoffs.